narcissist (English)
Where does "narcissist" come from?
The word 'narcissist' is formed in English by combining the proper noun 'Narcissus' with the suffix '-ist'[1]. The name 'Narcissus' refers to a figure in Greek mythology who became obsessed with his own reflection[1]. This name originates from the Latin 'Narcissus'[2], which itself traces back to the Ancient Greek 'Narkissos'[2][3]. By appending the agentive suffix '-ist' to the name of this mythical character, the term identifies a person who exhibits extreme self-admiration or egoism[1].
Full etymology tree
- narcissist (English), 'One who shows extreme love and admiration for themself.'
- derived Narcissus (English), 'A youth who spurned the love of Echo and fell in love with his own reflection in a pool: in some versions of the myth, he drowned trying to reach it, while in others he sat fixated until a god took pity and transformed him into a flower.'
- inherited Narcissus (Latin), 'Narcissus, a figure from Greek mythology'
- inherited Νάρκισσος (Nárkissos) (Ancient Greek), 'Narcissus'
- inherited Narcissus (Latin), 'Narcissus, a figure from Greek mythology'
- suffix -ist (English), 'Added to words to form nouns denoting:'
- derived Narcissus (English), 'A youth who spurned the love of Echo and fell in love with his own reflection in a pool: in some versions of the myth, he drowned trying to reach it, while in others he sat fixated until a god took pity and transformed him into a flower.'
Ancestors
- Narcissus (English)
- -ist (English)
Descendants and derived words
- narcissistical (English)
- narcopath (English)
- narcopath (English)
- nonnarcissist (English)
Sources
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris